{"id":135435,"date":"2023-10-12T13:09:47","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T17:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=135435"},"modified":"2023-10-13T00:59:32","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T04:59:32","slug":"baltimore-hbcu-will-build-wall-to-keep-out-bad-actors-following-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/baltimore-hbcu-will-build-wall-to-keep-out-bad-actors-following-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltimore HBCU will build wall to keep out \u2018bad actors\u2019 following shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wall will enclose 90 percent of campus<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A wall that will shut off \u201cunfettered access\u201d to outsides and encircle 90 percent of the campus will go up soon at a Baltimore historically black college.<\/p>\n

The announcement by Morgan State University on Tuesday came after a shooting Oct. 3 \u201cleft five people injured during homecoming festivities,\u201d as reported<\/a> by Fox 5. The suspects reportedly did not intend to target the five injured Morgan State students. Both suspects are black.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re doing this, let me be clear, not to keep out our neighbors and our community writ large; we are doing it to keep out the bad actors,\u201d President David Wilson said during a town hall meeting Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wall would extend existing barriers by about 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) to encircle 90% of campus and effectively \u2018eliminate unfettered access,\u2019\u201d Fox 5 reported, quoting President Wilson.<\/p>\n

Other upgrades were underway and are being accelerated, officials said.<\/p>\n

Fox 5 reported:<\/p>\n

University officials said significant security upgrades were underway before the shooting, but they\u2019re now moving forward with more urgency. In addition to the wall, other potential upgrades include installing more metal detectors in campus buildings, exploring weapons detection technology, increasing police patrols and building additional security guard booths. Wilson said the anticipated total cost is more than $22 million.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While the university is now building walls to keep some outsiders from entering the facility, it previously celebrated the tearing down of a wall once meant to divide the black university from the surrounding white neighbors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wall separated students from the community and the shopping plaza,\u201d WMAR 2 reported<\/a> in April. \u201cIt feels almost like\u2026poetic justice. I feel like the literal and physical wall being put up to prevent Black people from shopping here and thriving here is coming down,\u201d a local business owner said at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE:<\/strong> Plagued by campus crime, Temple prez resigns<\/a><\/p>\n

IMAGE: WBAL-11 TV<\/p>\n

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